It's downright hot in the Philippines and I can't wait to cool down in a non-crowded place once this quarantine is all over.
Back when things used to be normal, I and my friend wanted to enjoy a place in Cebu that has (a) a pool (b) a scenic view, and ( c ) out of the bustling streets and people. First thing that popped into our minds -- Busay! So, with the help of our good friend, Google, we searched for pools in Busay. Guess what was first on the list. That's right!
Busay Holiday Pools. It's located in Barangay Malubog, Busay, Cebu City.
It was a Friday. A weekday. We had a motorcycle with us. Busay Holiday Pool is highly detectable on Google Maps and the Globe cellular data really does stick from the city up to Busay.
*Note: When you say Busay, it's a really long road of who-knows-til-where. There is no distinct line or signage saying "Busay starts here" or something like "You're leaving Busay..." So, if you're commuting and say to drivers to drop you at Busay, you might need to be more specific than that.
How to Get There
( A ) You can ride any jeepney going to JY Mall in Lahug (such as 04C, 17C, 04I, 04L). From JY Mall, a few motorcycle drivers will be coming at you like some prey and ask you where you're going. Just tell them you're going to Busay Holiday Pools. Charge may range from Php 100 - Php 150 for a single passenger.
( B ) Still the same, ride a jeepney. But this time, choose only for 04I or 04H. Take the ride until the end of its route in Nivel Hills, Busay. Most jeepneys drop you at the intersection where you'll see the road is divided to two paths. But you don't need to worry, a few motorcycle drivers are waiting for you on the Pungko-Pungko area nearby. From there, you'll ride a motorcycle to Busay Holiday Pools. Charge may range from Php 50 - Php 80, depending on your charms and haggling skills.
( C ) Book a grab car. That's easy enough. Though it's not practical or easily booked. Grab cars are not really into hill tops or steep slopes.
( D ) Book a ride with Angkas. But still the same limits with Grab.
How to Find the Place
It's a 20 to 30-minute ride from JY Mall to Busay Holiday Pools. The road in Busay is pretty plain and simple. To those who are a bit anxious with motorcycle (or habal-habal) rides, here's what to expect:
- The road is well-cemented with very minimal bumps
- There are a few blind curves but signages are clear enough
- There is a really steep, curved road near Clearview area but an experienced habal-habal driver will have no problem with this
- For any motorcycle problem, the nearest vulcanizing shop (I've seen so far) is before Chateau de Busay -- about 10 minutes from JY Mall
- Stop looking at the road or worry about motorcycle failures. Look at the view. IT. IS. BEAUTIFUL.
You'll know you're near when you see the Tops sign. Tops is pretty popular for its city view and restaurant, and it has a big sign on the left. After a few minutes, the next thing to look for is this signage of a public school, Malubog Integrated School. If you've missed that, then you'll expect the Barangay Malubog MP. Building on your right after the next curve. On the next next curve, you'll find the Serenity Farm & Resort signage on your left. And after 2 minutes, you'll see the Busay Holiday Pools signage. Though it's not that big, here's a screenshot from Google Maps on how it looks when you arrive.
Summary of the Rates & other Details
Entrance fee: Php 100 (Adults), Php 75 (Kids - 4 ft. below)
Cottages: Php 300 - Php 500
Videoke: Yes
Sugba / Grill: Yes
Walk-in: Yes
Overnight: Yes
Room rates: Php 1,500 (plus the Php 100 entrance fee per person & Php 200 returnable fee for the keys)
Corkage: None
Liquor: Yes (but I don't drink tho. Just saw the people there drinkin')
When we arrived, there were just 4 guests there -- 2 adults and 2 kids. We went around the place and, I gotta say, it's not exactly the grand type of resort, but they managed their spaces really well. The entire resort included:
- 4 pools (3 kiddies, 1 adult)
- Too many cottages to even count (and few more under construction)
- 2 playgrounds (one on the ground duh, one near the pool)
- 1 hanging bridge
- 2 sets of comfort rooms (male and female) & shower rooms
- A cafeteria near the reception area
- 3 rooms for overnight (but more are under construction)
One pool was by the edge seemingly overlooking the view, but it's not exactly an infinity pool.
However, if you want to take a break from swimming, you can sit on the benches by the pool and look at the view
TANGA times...
- Tried the kiddie slides by the pool. Let's just say my behind didn't think it was such a good idea.
- I was about to get through the hanging bridge. But got my entire hand swarmed with black ants instead.
- Stayed at the edge of one of their stairs to get reception. Semi-risking dear life for some signal. Globe cellular data isn't so good once you go down there.
- It was near 8 pm. I was gonna ask something to one of the staff. There was nobody there. The reception area was like a ghost town or spookier. Nearby people said the staff are out as early as 7 pm. Hope you're not easily spooked (because I am lol)
NOT-SO TANGA times...
- Got really hungry but their cafeteria was so pricey! Talk about a tiny fried eggplant for Php 45 and a piece of adobo for Php 75. Not-so tanga and also tipid me went out to look for carenderias outside. TIP! There's Divina Eatery (looks like a simple house) just across the street and it's more affordable. ANOTHER TIP! (But only applicable to those with bikes) go to the next barangay by riding straight ahead. There are more carenderias where you can enjoy a full-blown meal with rice, soup, pork chop and Coke for just Php 100.
How to Contact them
They have no landline number so the best way to contact them for reservation and queries is through their mobile number.
It was so great to have a break from work, from traffic, from all the stressors with just a cool dip and a bit of hillside view at Busay Holiday Pools. So if you're planning on getting that quick getaway from the city, this should definitely be on top of your list. 😉